Here Come the Boomers … continued

Last month I cited several statistics from the recent National Institutes of Health (NIH) research study as evidence of the “sea of change” that is taking place in the United States as people like me, proud members of the baby boomer generation, grow older. This emerging wave of boomer older adults is causing much conversation about our nation’s ability to engage, care for and provide a safety net for the record numbers of older adults.

A high percentage of older adults is nothing new to most churches I visit during my travels for Wheat Ridge Ministries. Most of these people represent the “silent” and “GI” generations. What will our pews look like as these faithful and talented individuals are no longer in our pews? Will people of my generation remain active in worship and congregation leadership as they get older? And, just as important, will their children and grandchildren be active in the life of the church?

Two things are very evident from the recent NIH research. First, there is going to be a huge talent pool of skilled people who, as they retire or cut back on their employment, will have an increased amount of time to serve their community and their church. Second, since these increasing numbers of older adults will, on average, live longer than people of previous generations, the resources required to care for them during the later years of their life will increase significantly. 

Fortunately, our churches and communities are not without significant assets as we attempt to come to grips with the burgeoning older adult population. Organizations and activities focused on older adults in the Lutheran Church are a great example of this. The organizations that are members of Lutheran Services in America provide services to 1 out of every 50 people in the United States each year. Many of these people are older adults and many of them are served by a large number of excellent independent living, assisted living, and nursing care facilities for older adults, such as Lutheran Life Communities and Lutheran Homes of South Carolina. Lutheran Social Service organizations across the country, including great organizations like Lutheran Social Services of the South, Lutheran Family Services of Nebraska, and Lutheran Social Services of New York are daily providing services for older adults.

I recently asked Rich Bimler, past president of Wheat Ridge, to share a list of some other organizations he knows that are focused on serving older adults. Rich is more aware of older adult activities and resources in the Lutheran church than anyone else I know. Here are just a few organizations from his list:

• Adult Lutherans Organized for Action (ALOA) – This is a national ministry focusing on older adults celebrating and serving.   
• Ignite your Life – This is a program sponsored by the Ammerman Center for Creative Aging.  Its focus is helping younger older adults through programs, resources and modeling.
• LCMS Rural and Small Town Ministries – Focus on rural ministries with an emphasis on older adults.
• LEA EncourAGEnet – Hosted by the Lutheran Education Association, this network provides encouragement for retired/repositioned church workers and laity.
• Rich and Charlie Resources – Provides “encouraging words to those who serve.”
• Creative Communications – They produce a great devotional resource for older adults called Hope-Full Living.
• Lutheran District and Synod Older Adult events – One example is the Veterans of the Cross Retreat for retired church workers, hosted by the Florida-Georgia District of the LCMS each year.  
• Grant Makers – Wheat Ridge Ministries is one of a number of Lutheran-related grant makers who provide resources to assist older adult ministry efforts that are developed by congregations and other faith-based and community organizations.

At the base of all of these efforts (I hope) is the ministry with and for older adults that takes place every day through the life of individual churches. For many older adults, their church is their place of community, the place where they gather with people of all ages for worship, service and fellowship. Local churches are uniquely positioned to serve our increasing numbers of older adults through their own programs and by partnering with others in their community.

More on all this in the next edition of Rick’s Reflections. In the meantime, to whatever degree you have been chronologically gifted, celebrate God’s gift of life today!

From the Lone Star State

The newest member of our Wheat Ridge staff, Anya Knodt, is from Texas and like most Texans I know, she regularly reminds us of the many wonders of the Lone Star State.  Since I just returned from a brief trip to Texas visiting Wheat Ridge friends, supporters and projects, I thought I’d make Anya happy by sharing a few reflections about one of my favorite cities, the state capital of Texas.

Yes, of all the cities I’ve visited in this great state, Austin is my favorite.  It’s not as massive as Houston or Dallas.  It has a young entrepreneurial feel, likely fed by the major high-tech presence in town including companies such as Dell, Intel and Qualcomm.  If you’re a music lover, you’re aware that Austin has gained a reputation as the live music capital of the U.S. and home of my favorite public television show – Austin City Limits.  

 

Austin is also home to many great congregations and Christian organizations that give witness to the Gospel.  The footprint of the Lutheran church is much larger than can be capsulated in this brief space.  Here are just a few examples …

 

Very significant is the presence of Lutheran Social Services of the South.  This wonderful statewide agency, led by Dr. Kurt Senske, is known for its care and compassion for those with special needs throughout the state.  Wheat Ridge has been a proud partner of LSSS through the years.  One of the innovative programs developed by LSSS several years ago – with help from Wheat Ridge Ministries – utilizes Stephen Ministries as a tool for caring for colleagues and clients.

 

Another significant example of the Lutheran community’s impact in Austin is Concordia University Texas, which touches the lives of thousands of young people each year.  Thanks to the exceptional leadership of President Tom Cedel and a talented faculty and staff, Concordia is growing rapidly on its beautiful new campus.  It is producing students who are serving the Lord by using their God-given gifts and talents in service to the community.

 

Indicative of the creative spirit of service in the congregations of the Austin area is “Water to Thrive,” an impactful new human care initiative based in Austin that is currently being seeded by Wheat Ridge Ministries.  During this trip to Texas, I enjoyed a great visit with Dick Moeller, founder of W2T.  Dick was inspired to begin this new ministry after his Bible study group at Triumphant Love Lutheran Church decided to raise $5,000 to dig a well in Ethiopia in order to provide clean water.  They raised enough money for 12 wells!  W2T has partnered with non-government organizations in several countries in eastern Africa and its impact includes more than 300 water projects that have impacted the lives of over 150,000 people now experiencing the health benefits of clean water.

 

During my brief stay in Austin last week, I also met the new pastor of Triumphant Love Lutheran, Steve Troisi.  I was pleased to learn that Pastor Steve’s previous church in South Carolina was the recipient of a Wheat Ridge seed grant for an Alzheimer’s support and respite program.  Pastor Steve and Triumphant Love were recently invited to join several other Lutheran congregations to develop a counseling and leadership training program for at-risk youth in the Austin community … a great example of creative ministry spirit in Austin!  I was not surprised to learn that a leader of this effort is Pastor Tom Grevlos, a good friend of Wheat Ridge Ministries, who recently arrived in Austin to serve as senior pastor of Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church.

 

I returned from this visit to Texas reminded once again of the power of God’s Spirit to inspire people around the world to acts of justice and mercy in response to the Good News that Jesus came that we may experience the fullness of life (John 10:10).  It’s a privilege for Wheat Ridge Ministries to encourage and support the passion for service that exists in homes, churches and agencies as people share the healing touch of Christ with others!